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{{Title|Skirmish on ''Mona Lisa''}} | {{Title|Skirmish on ''Mona Lisa''}} | ||
{{ | {{Status|Canon}} | ||
{{Battle | {{Battle infobox | ||
|prev=[[ | |prev=[[Raid on the Threshold gas mine]] | ||
|conc=[[Battle of Earth]] | |conc=[[Battle of Earth]] | ||
|next= | |next= | ||
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|image=[[File:TML - entry.png|300px]] | |image=[[File:TML - entry.png|300px]] | ||
|conflict=Independent | |conflict=Independent | ||
|date=October 2552 | |date=[[2552#October|October 25, 2552]]<ref name="Catalog">[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=46#post454 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 2976443)]</ref>{{Ref/Note|1=According to a summary on Halo Waypoint, ''The Mona Lisa'' is set [http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/Universe/Detail/the-mona-lisa-1/1f69c960-2eb1-42e0-89b4-89a58fa153b8 "between the events of Halo: Combat Evolved and Halo 2"], which would limit the possible timeframe for the skirmish between October 1 and October 20. However, in ''[[Halo: First Strike]]'', it is suggested that ''High Charity'' is already on its way to the Soell system by September 22, having sent a smaller scouting party in advance. In ''Halo 2'', it is seen that ''High Charity'' and its fleet were present in the system until October 20, when they departed for Installation 05. ''The Mona Lisa'' makes a reference to a large Covenant fleet having left the system recently, which would coincide with ''High Charity'' and its fleet leaving on October 20th; no other large Covenant fleet is known to have left the system between September and October. Catalog later [https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=46#post454 reported] that Sergeant Lopez was listed as KIA on October 25, invalidating the former Waypoint summary.}} | ||
|place=''Mona Lisa'', Soell system, Installation 04 debris field<ref name="tml223"/> | |place=''Mona Lisa'', Soell system, Installation 04 debris field<ref name="tml223">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 223''</ref> | ||
|result=UNSC | |result=UNSC victory | ||
*Flood outbreak successfully contained | *Flood outbreak successfully contained | ||
*Most of the marine force lost | *Most of the marine force lost | ||
|side1=[[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] | |side1=*[[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] | ||
*[[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] (in battle) | |||
[[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] (in battle) | *[[Covenant]] (prisoner) | ||
|side2=''Mona Lisa'' occupants | |side2=*''Mona Lisa'' occupants | ||
**[[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] (preclude) | |||
[[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] (preclude) | |side3=*[[The Flood]] | ||
|side3=[[The Flood]] | |||
|commanders1=*[[Commander]] [[Tobias Foucault]] | |commanders1=*[[Commander]] [[Tobias Foucault]] | ||
*[[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Rebecca]] | *[[Artificial intelligence|AI]] [[Rebecca]] | ||
*[[Sergeant]] [[Zhao Heng Lopez]] | *[[Sergeant]] [[Zhao Heng Lopez]] {{C|[[Missing in action|MIA]]}} | ||
|commanders2=[[Major]] [[John Smith]] | |commanders2=*[[Major]] [[John Smith]] | ||
|commanders3=[[Proto-Gravemind]] | |commanders3=*[[Proto-Gravemind]] † | ||
|forces1=*1 ONI Prowler | |forces1=*1 ONI Prowler | ||
**{{UNSCShip|Red Horse}} | **{{UNSCShip|Red Horse}} | ||
***18 Marines | ***18 Marines | ||
*Escaped prisoners | *Escaped prisoners | ||
**[[Patrick Rimmer]] † | |||
**[[Henry]] {{C|[[Missing in action|MIA]]}} | |||
|forces2=*ONI personnel | |||
*Security personnel | |||
*Escaped prisoners | |||
|forces3=*Flood combat forms | |||
*Pod infectors | |||
|casual1=*16 Marines confirmed KIA | |||
*Prisoners | |||
**Patrick Rimmer | **Patrick Rimmer | ||
** | **Henry {{C|[[Missing in action|MIA]]}} | ||
| | |casual2=*All original occupants | ||
|casual3=*All Flood | |||
}} | |||
The '''Skirmish on ''Mona Lisa''''' was fought in the [[Soell|Soell system]] within [[Installation 04]]'s debris field aboard the [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]]-commissioned [[civilian]] [[Prison ship|prisoner transport]] ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' on [[2552#October|October 25, 2552]].{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}} Having suffered a catastrophic [[Flood]] outbreak as a result of the actions of the ONI operative [[John Smith]], the ship was later [[Naval boarding|boarded]] by an ill-fated [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine]] unit and destroyed only hours afterward.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"''</ref> | |||
The ONI [[operation]]s codenamed '''RED CLOUD''' and '''WHITE SAND''' were linked with the engagement.<ref>[https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2963929_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2963929 '''Halo Waypoint''' - ''Catalog Interaction'' (page 18)]</ref> | |||
The ''' | |||
==Prelude== | ==Prelude== | ||
| Line 56: | Line 50: | ||
===The Flood outbreak=== | ===The Flood outbreak=== | ||
Smith began to conduct tests on both Covenant and human prisoners; he may or may not have exceeded his operational parameters when doing so.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 323''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 330-331''</ref> However, sufficient security measures were not taken and the parasite escaped containment. Though the specifics of the outbreak are unclear, prisoner [[Patrick Rimmer]] suspected that the Covenant attempted to escape and the Flood broke out in the chaos. Some of the Covenant would also let human prisoners out of their cells in order to enlist their aid in combating the common threat of the Flood. One of the Covenant sympathetic to the human prisoners was a Sangheili who Patrick Rimmer called "[[Henry]]". | Smith began to conduct tests on both Covenant and human prisoners; he may or may not have exceeded his operational parameters when doing so.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 323''</ref><ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 330-331''</ref> However, sufficient security measures were not taken and the parasite escaped containment. Though the specifics of the outbreak are unclear, prisoner [[Patrick Rimmer]] suspected that the Covenant attempted to escape and the Flood broke out in the chaos. Some of the Covenant would also let human prisoners out of their cells in order to enlist their aid in combating the common threat of the Flood. One of the Covenant sympathetic to the human prisoners was a Sangheili who Patrick Rimmer called "[[Henry]]".{{Ref/Reuse|prelude}} | ||
The Flood would soon overwhelm the ship, with prisoners and guards desperately attempting to hinder the parasite's progress by building makeshift barricades.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 264-265''</ref> Meanwhile, Smith launched most of the ship's escape pods to prevent the Flood from escaping, and subsequently locked himself in a sealed safe room.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 301''</ref> Eventually, the Flood would claim most of the people aboard the ship, with only a handful of uninfected survivors remaining. | The Flood would soon overwhelm the ship, with prisoners and guards desperately attempting to hinder the parasite's progress by building makeshift barricades.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 264-265''</ref> Meanwhile, Smith launched most of the ship's escape pods to prevent the Flood from escaping, and subsequently locked himself in a sealed safe room.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 301''</ref> Eventually, the Flood would claim most of the people aboard the ship, with only a handful of uninfected survivors remaining.{{Ref/Reuse|prelude}} Shortly after breaking out, the Flood would begin to accumulate biomass to form a [[proto-Gravemind]] around its [[Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine|slipspace drive]] in the engine room, with the intent of absorbing a sufficient amount of knowledge to allow them to escape the system.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 321-322''</ref> | ||
===UNSC investigation=== | ===UNSC investigation=== | ||
| Line 64: | Line 58: | ||
Shortly later, the Office of Naval Intelligence dispatched a [[UNSC prowler|prowler]], the {{UNSCShip|Red Horse}}, to the Soell system, with the apparent mission to "jump to coordinates classified higher than top secret, retrieve samples of an alien artifact for study, conduct basic recon, expect Covenant trouble."<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 237''</ref> However, none of the crew, including the ship's [[Commanding officer|CO]] [[Commander]] [[Tobias Foucault]], were informed of the Flood. ONI also had the ship's old AI, [[Chauncey]], removed and replaced by the secretive ONI AI [[Rebecca]].<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 225''</ref> | Shortly later, the Office of Naval Intelligence dispatched a [[UNSC prowler|prowler]], the {{UNSCShip|Red Horse}}, to the Soell system, with the apparent mission to "jump to coordinates classified higher than top secret, retrieve samples of an alien artifact for study, conduct basic recon, expect Covenant trouble."<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 237''</ref> However, none of the crew, including the ship's [[Commanding officer|CO]] [[Commander]] [[Tobias Foucault]], were informed of the Flood. ONI also had the ship's old AI, [[Chauncey]], removed and replaced by the secretive ONI AI [[Rebecca]].<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 225''</ref> | ||
By the time the ''Red Horse'' arrived, the [[High Charity defense fleet|Covenant fleet]] that had been present in the system had left in pursuit of what UNSC intelligence assumed was a "[[Installation 05|higher value target]]".<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 236''</ref> After sifting through Installation 04's debris field for three days, occasionally conducting reconnaissance missions via [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]],<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 223-224''</ref> the crew of the ''Red Horse'' discovered an escape pod launched six hours earlier from the ''Mona Lisa''. Rebecca then revealed Foucault the "extended" mission parameters; they were to assess the status of the ''Mona Lisa'', with the orders to destroy the ship if it had been "compromised beyond retrieval".<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 237-238''</ref> | By the time the ''Red Horse'' arrived, the [[High Charity defense fleet|Covenant fleet]] that had been present in the system had left in pursuit of what UNSC intelligence assumed was a "[[Installation 05|higher value target]]".<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 236''</ref> After sifting through Installation 04's debris field for three days, occasionally conducting reconnaissance missions via [[D77-TC Pelican|Pelicans]],<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 223-224''</ref> the crew of the ''Red Horse'' discovered an escape pod launched six hours earlier from the ''Mona Lisa''. In the pod they discovered a fatally-wounded [[John Doe|human prisoner]] who indicated that something horrific has occurred aboard the ''Mona Lisa'', something that led to the deaths of its entire complement of crew and passengers and left himself gravely mutilated. Rebecca then revealed Foucault the "extended" mission parameters; they were to assess the status of the ''Mona Lisa'', with the orders to destroy the ship if it had been "compromised beyond retrieval".<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 237-238''</ref> | ||
==Reconnaissance mission== | ==Reconnaissance mission== | ||
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A detachment of 18 Marines led by [[Sergeant]] [[Zhao Heng Lopez]] was then sent on the ''Mona Lisa'', accompanied by a covert ONI Section 3 operative, [[Clarence]], whose orders were to leave none of the original occupants of the ship alive.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 337-340''</ref> Around this time, the ''Red Horse'' detected a single [[CAS-class assault carrier|Covenant assault carrier]]<ref>'''The Mona Lisa''', ''motion comic''</ref> in the system, leaving the Marines on their own as the ''Red Horse'' was forced to limit its maneuvering and communications to a minimum out of risk of being detected.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 242''</ref> | A detachment of 18 Marines led by [[Sergeant]] [[Zhao Heng Lopez]] was then sent on the ''Mona Lisa'', accompanied by a covert ONI Section 3 operative, [[Clarence]], whose orders were to leave none of the original occupants of the ship alive.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 337-340''</ref> Around this time, the ''Red Horse'' detected a single [[CAS-class assault carrier|Covenant assault carrier]]<ref>'''The Mona Lisa''', ''motion comic''</ref> in the system, leaving the Marines on their own as the ''Red Horse'' was forced to limit its maneuvering and communications to a minimum out of risk of being detected.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 242''</ref> | ||
Boarding the ship via a cargo bay, Lopez's squad was first engaged by a small group of Sangheili, all lacking armor or weapons, and dispatched them with ease. During the skirmish, one of the Marines, [[Rabbit]], went missing. Lopez ordered four Marines; [[Cranker]], [[Maller]], [[Simmons]] and [[Sydney (Marine)|Sydney]], to guard the Pelican while she took the others to find Rabbit, who was soon found dead. Meanwhile, the Marines left in the cargo bay were attacked by [[ | Boarding the ship via a cargo bay, Lopez's squad was first engaged by a small group of Sangheili, all lacking armor or weapons, and dispatched them with ease. During the skirmish, one of the Marines, [[Rabbit]], went missing. Lopez ordered four Marines; [[Cranker]], [[Maller]], [[Simmons]] and [[Sydney (Marine)|Sydney]], to guard the Pelican while she took the others to find Rabbit, who was soon found dead. Meanwhile, the Marines left in the cargo bay were attacked by [[Pod infector]]s and dropped out of contact. | ||
Lopez then contacted the ''Red Horse'', now receiving new orders to enact the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]] by purging the ''Mona Lisa'''s two navigation databases. The Marines formed two parties; a team led by Lopez consisting of [[James MacCraw|MacCraw]], [[Mahmoud]], [[Percy]], [[Rakesh]] and [[Singh]], and another one led by [[Hospital Corpsman|Corpsman]] [[Ngoc Benti]] with Clarence, [[Gersten]], [[Orlav]] and [[Tsardikos]]. Lopez's group would head to the primary NAV database located on the [[bridge]] while Benti's team would go after the backup data in the [[engineering]]. At this time, the Marines also noticed that one of them, [[Ayad]], had disappeared.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 258-262''</ref> | Lopez then contacted the ''Red Horse'', now receiving new orders to enact the [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]] by purging the ''Mona Lisa'''s two navigation databases. The Marines formed two parties; a team led by Lopez consisting of [[James MacCraw|MacCraw]], [[Mahmoud]], [[Percy]], [[Rakesh]] and [[Raj Singh|Singh]], and another one led by [[Hospital Corpsman|Corpsman]] [[Ngoc Benti]] with Clarence, [[Gersten]], [[Orlav]] and [[Tsardikos]]. Lopez's group would head to the primary NAV database located on the [[bridge]] while Benti's team would go after the backup data in the [[engineering]]. At this time, the Marines also noticed that one of them, [[Ayad]], had disappeared.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 258-262''</ref> | ||
When scouting an infirmary on their way to the bridge, Lopez's team discovered a safe room, finding John Smith inside. Smith, not revealing his true identity, claimed to be the ship's medical officer while continuously insisting they should leave the ship immediately, but his pleas were ignored by Lopez.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 265-271''</ref> Meanwhile, Cranker and Maller, who had been repurposed as [[Flood combat form]]s, approached the Marines' Pelican. The pilot, [[Burgundy]], assumed they were injured and opened the rear ramp, only to be attacked by the two who then proceeded to drag her through the ship toward the proto-Gravemind in the engine room.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 271-272''</ref> | When scouting an infirmary on their way to the bridge, Lopez's team discovered a safe room, finding John Smith inside. Smith, not revealing his true identity, claimed to be the ship's medical officer while continuously insisting they should leave the ship immediately, but his pleas were ignored by Lopez.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 265-271''</ref> Meanwhile, Cranker and Maller, who had been repurposed as [[Flood combat form]]s, approached the Marines' Pelican. The pilot, [[Burgundy]], assumed they were injured and opened the rear ramp, only to be attacked by the two who then proceeded to drag her through the ship toward the proto-Gravemind in the engine room.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 271-272''</ref> | ||
[[File:TML - Rebecca n Foucault.png|thumb|left|250px|Rebecca and Foucault on the bridge of the ''Red Horse''.]] | |||
When cutting through the ship's recycling plant, Benti and her team were attacked by a group of Flood. As they were being chased by the Flood, Tsardikos fell behind and was immediately killed. Soon after, Orlav was infected and bit Gersten before being shot by Clarence. The rest of the team then made it to safety in a maintenance room, where they encountered Patrick Rimmer and his Sangheili companion, "Henry", armed with a cricket bat. Here, Gersten began to show symptoms of infection and was promptly executed by Clarence.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 285-292''</ref> | |||
On the ''Red Horse'', Commander Foucault, still unaware of the threat aboard the ''Mona Lisa'', prepared to have Sergeant [[Fugazi]] and two squads sent to the ''Mona Lisa'' in order to reinforce Lopez's squad, which had dropped out of contact. Rebecca, however, pointed out that their orders were to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' immediately if contact with the recon team aboard was lost. The AI then showed the Commander the true nature of the Flood in order to convince him.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 297-299''</ref> Upon seeing recordings of the Flood from Installation 04, Foucault withdrew his order to send more Marines, but would still remain reluctant to fire upon the ''Mona Lisa'' with Lopez's squad on board.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 316-317''</ref> | On the ''Red Horse'', Commander Foucault, still unaware of the threat aboard the ''Mona Lisa'', prepared to have Sergeant [[Fugazi]] and two squads sent to the ''Mona Lisa'' in order to reinforce Lopez's squad, which had dropped out of contact. Rebecca, however, pointed out that their orders were to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' immediately if contact with the recon team aboard was lost. The AI then showed the Commander the true nature of the Flood in order to convince him.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 297-299''</ref> Upon seeing recordings of the Flood from Installation 04, Foucault withdrew his order to send more Marines, but would still remain reluctant to fire upon the ''Mona Lisa'' with Lopez's squad on board.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 316-317''</ref> | ||
After finding a Flood growth in a recreation room, Lopez began questioning Smith, who first claimed that the Flood was a Covenant virus that had transmitted into human prisoners. Shortly later, Rakesh was killed in a sudden Flood attack. Lopez, having grown agitated of Smith's reluctance to cooperate, hit him and had one of her Marines search him, soon discovering his true identity and rank. As Lopez still refused to leave the ship, Smith unexpectedly killed Mahmoud and made his escape,<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 306-307''</ref> eventually making it to the Marines' Pelican and escaping the ship.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 324''</ref> | After finding a Flood growth in a recreation room, Lopez began questioning Smith, who first claimed that the Flood was a Covenant virus that had transmitted into human prisoners. Shortly later, Rakesh was killed in a sudden Flood attack. Lopez, having grown agitated of Smith's reluctance to cooperate, hit him and had one of her Marines search him, soon discovering his true identity and rank. As Lopez still refused to leave the ship, Smith unexpectedly killed Mahmoud and made his escape,<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 306-307''</ref> eventually making it to the Marines' Pelican and escaping the ship.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 324''</ref> | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
===Finale=== | ===Finale=== | ||
Percy and Singh were killed by a combat form that had been Ayad before Lopez's team reached the bridge, leaving only the Sergeant and MacCraw. On the bridge, Lopez contacted the ''Red Horse'', learning that Foucault was preparing to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' with a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|Shiva warhead]] immediately once Smith was aboard the ''Red Horse'', as the Major's Pelican had attracted the attention of the Covenant ship which now changed course, bearing down on the ''Red Horse''. Lopez and MacCraw then began to make their way to the two escape pods still left on the lower deck.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 322-327''</ref> | Percy and Singh were killed by a combat form that had been Ayad before Lopez's team reached the bridge, leaving only the Sergeant and MacCraw. On the bridge, Lopez contacted the ''Red Horse'', learning that Foucault was preparing to destroy the ''Mona Lisa'' with a [[Shiva-class nuclear missile|Shiva warhead]] immediately once Smith was aboard the ''Red Horse'', as the Major's Pelican had attracted the attention of the Covenant ship which now changed course, bearing down on the ''Red Horse''. Lopez and MacCraw then began to make their way to the two escape pods still left on the lower deck.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 322-327''</ref> | ||
[[File:TML - finale.png|thumb|250px|The final standoff between Henry and Lopez.]] | |||
Meanwhile, Benti's party made it into the engine room, where they discovered the proto-Gravemind and witnessed Burgundy being merged with it. At the same time, Lopez's exchange with the ''Red Horse'' rang through the ''Mona Lisa'''s PA system, driving the Flood into a mad frenzy. Benti then used a pair of [[M9 High-Explosive Dual-Purpose grenade|fragmentation grenades]] to destroy the proto-Gravemind, also causing the ship's slipspace drive to destabilize.<ref>'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 328-332''</ref> | |||
The Marines eventually regrouped outside the [[airlock]] with the two remaining escape pods, learning that each could only hold a single occupant. As Lopez and MacCraw held their ground at the airlock, the rest of the survivors arrived, with "Henry" carrying an injured Benti. Suddenly, Clarence executed Rimmer and trained his rifle on an infuriated Henry, revealing his status as an ONI agent. In the ensuing standoff, MacCraw suddenly escaped in one of the escape pods, abandoning the rest of the survivors. Simultaneously, Benti pushed herself and Clarence into an approaching horde of Flood.<ref name="fin">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 338-342''</ref> | The Marines eventually regrouped outside the [[airlock]] with the two remaining escape pods, learning that each could only hold a single occupant. As Lopez and MacCraw held their ground at the airlock, the rest of the survivors arrived, with "Henry" carrying an injured Benti. Suddenly, Clarence executed Rimmer and trained his rifle on an infuriated Henry, revealing his status as an ONI agent. In the ensuing standoff, MacCraw suddenly escaped in one of the escape pods, abandoning the rest of the survivors. Simultaneously, Benti pushed herself and Clarence into an approaching horde of Flood.<ref name="fin">'''Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe''', ''"The Mona Lisa"'', ''page 338-342''</ref> | ||
Holding off the Flood mob, Lopez and "Henry" then entered the airlock. Realizing only one of them could escape, Lopez proceeded to shoot Henry, only to find that she was out of ammunition. The two would then fight for the last escape pod, with thirty seconds left until the ''Mona Lisa'' was destroyed by the Shiva missile.<ref | Holding off the Flood mob, Lopez and "Henry" then entered the airlock. Realizing only one of them could escape, Lopez proceeded to shoot Henry, only to find that she was out of ammunition. The two would then fight for the last escape pod, with thirty seconds left until the ''Mona Lisa'' was destroyed by the Shiva missile.{{Ref/Reuse|fin}} It is apparent that both "Henry" and Sergeant Lopez were killed before either could escape the ''Mona Lisa''; no Sangheili was listed in the ''Red Horse''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s records following the event,<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/forums/db05ce78845f4120b062c50816008e5d/topics/catalog-interaction/4c3e1c6f-6519-4ee0-83a4-4bac13bf07a3/posts?page=11#post105 '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Catalog Interaction'' (post 2963929)]</ref> and Lopez was designated KIA on October 25.{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}} | ||
{{Clear}} | {{Clear}} | ||
==Aftermath== | ==Aftermath== | ||
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==Timeline== | ==Timeline== | ||
Time stamps based on UNSC [[Military Standard Time]] exist for most of the key events during the Marines' mission aboard ''Mona Lisa'' on October 25, 2552.{{Ref/Reuse|Catalog}} | |||
*''' | *'''0610–0623 hours''': Marines and Naval personnel aboard the ''[[UNSC Red Horse|Red Horse]]'' inspect an escape pod launched from the ''[[Mona Lisa]]'' and discover a delirious survivor inside. | ||
*'''0932 hours''': Sergeant [[Zhao Heng Lopez|Lopez]] is briefed on the reconnaissance mission to the ''Mona Lisa'' by Commander [[Tobias Foucault|Foucault]] and [[Rebecca]]. | *'''0932 hours''': Sergeant [[Zhao Heng Lopez|Lopez]] is briefed on the reconnaissance mission to the ''Mona Lisa'' by Commander [[Tobias Foucault|Foucault]] and [[Rebecca]]. | ||
| Line 120: | Line 115: | ||
*'''1450 hours''': [[Ngoc Benti|Benti]]'s team, passing through the ship's recycling plant, are attacked by a group of Flood. | *'''1450 hours''': [[Ngoc Benti|Benti]]'s team, passing through the ship's recycling plant, are attacked by a group of Flood. | ||
*''' | *'''1502–1507 hours''': As Benti's group is pursued by Flood forms, [[Tsardikos]] is killed, and [[Orlav]] is infected soon after, managing to infect [[Gersten]] before the team reaches safety. | ||
*'''1507 hours''': While Smith is explaining the nature of his experiments, [[Rakesh]] is claimed by the Flood. | *'''1507 hours''': While Smith is explaining the nature of his experiments, [[Rakesh]] is claimed by the Flood. | ||
| Line 202: | Line 197: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
{{Ref/Notes}} | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
{{Ref/Sources}} | |||
[[Category: | |||
{{Human-Covenant War}} | |||
[[Category:Battles of the Human-Covenant War|Mona Lisa]] | |||
[[Category:Human-Covenant War|Mona Lisa]] | |||
[[Category:Flood outbreaks]] | |||